NEW BEDFORD — In the wake of the Saturday shooting of seven people outside a North End bar, city officials are questioning promotions that draw large crowds to drinking establishments.

Seven people were sent to the hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening after they were shot outside the Jalice Cafe on Acushnet Avenue; the club had hosted a DJ party on Friday night into Saturday morning, according to police.

The incident wasn't the first promoted or private event in recent years that has resulted in a violent outbreak.

A hip hop night at the VFW on Middle Street in Fairhaven led to a deadly melee in 2008 when Joshua Fitzgerald was stabbed to death outside the building. In 2009, Wayne Rice was fatally shot inside the Andrews-Dahill VFW Post on Park Street during a memorial party for a slain local hip hop artist.

Hosting promoted events can be akin to subletting a liquor license to another party, according to Capt. Steven Vicente, the New Bedford Police Department's liaison to the city's Licensing Board.

"We've had issues where promotions have come into the city with certain artists, or certain DJs, that sometimes attract larger crowds than what the place can effectively manage," Vicente said. "The crowd gets too large for the venue, people want to get in and they can't get in, alcohol's involved, and all it takes is a push to lead to a shove."

Police Chief David Provencher said he is concerned the events can lead to crowds that are beyond an establishment's capacity.

According to Provencher, a security plan should be in place by the club that would ensure that weapons aren't brought inside and drinks aren't brought outside, as well as following some of the basic rules the Licensing Board puts forth: staying within capacity and focusing on safety.

In the case of the Jalice shootings, the Licensing Board had warned the pub not to host promoted events, according to the agenda for a Wednedsay Licensing Board meeting.

Mayor Jon Mitchell said while he wouldn't comment on Saturday's shooting, he has "serious concerns about promoted events" in the city in general.

"The worst bar problems the city seems to be associated with have been promoted events, at least in the past couple of years," said Mitchell. "At the root of the problem in my mind is that bar owners lose control of their own facilities when they turn them over to outside promoters who invite in whomever they want."

Outside promoters "have attracted a very rough element into some of our city establishments," many of them from outside New Bedford, the mayor said.

"A lot of these places can do better and control who actually goes in," said Mitchell, adding that "stiff penalties" for "out of control" events can be issued by the Licensing Board.

Steven Beauregard, chairman of the Licensing Board, said the board has warned establishments throughout the city that they cannot hold promoted events.

Capacity is an issue, Beauregard said.

"Very often they get crowds they're unprepared for," he said. "They think 100 people are going to show up and there's 500 people at the door. And it puts police in a difficult situation, they think a place holds 40 people and the next thing you know there's 200 people in the place."

Beauregard said the board imposes various penalties on establishments that don't follow regulations, from shuttering the establishments at earlier times or rescinding their licenses.

"When penalties are imposed, they seem to be running pretty good establishments," he said.

City Councilor Brian Gomes, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said when a major event like the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament is held, establishments in the area should consider closing early. (The Feast had closed earlier in the evening on the night of the shootings outside the Jalice establishment. The cafe is about seven blocks away from the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament.)

Gomes said the city should consider implementing a similar system to what Boston has done during large celebrations such as nights when Boston sports teams play in championship games. In Boston, he said the establishments are required to close early.

"I don't want to hurt those businesses in any way, it's an attempt for a safe and controlled environment," said Gomes. "I think that would make it easier for law enforcement and for everyone."